Sudan Humanitarian Update (23 February 2024)
SITUATION UPDATE
The number of people displaced by the conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that started on 15 April 2023 continues to increase. About 8.1 million people fled their homes in Sudan, this includes about 6.3 million people displaced within Sudan and another 1.8 million people who fled abroad. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) increased by about 53,500 people over the past week, according to the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM DTM) Weekly Displacement Snapshot 21. The IDPs are located in 6,771 locations – an increase of 62 locations over the past week - across all of Sudan’s 18 states. The highest proportions of displaced people are in the Darfur region (37 per cent) followed by River Nile (11 per cent), White Nile (8 per cent), Sennar (7 per cent), Gedaref (6 per cent), Northern (6 per cent), and Aj Jazirah states (6 per cent). IOM DTM field teams report that the IDPs were originally displaced from 12 states; 57 per cent of whom were displaced from Khartoum (3.5 million IDPs), followed by 33 per cent from Darfur states, 7 per cent from Aj Jazirah, and the rest from other states. Of the 1.8 million people who fled Sudan, about 1.65 million crossed into neighbouring countries, according to the UNHCR.
Since the fighting broke out on 15 April, ACLED has recorded about 13,900 reported fatalities across Sudan. Meanwhile, the Sudan Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) reports that about 27,700 people were injured between 15 April 2023 and 26 January 2024.
The price of staple grain could rise by 50–100 per cent in the next months – FAO and WFP
A joint update by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) on food security in Sudan issued in February indicates that harvests, currently underway, are projected as significantly below average in localized areas of greater Darfur and greater Kordofan, and severely reduced in West Darfur and Central Darfur states. National food availability will be affected as the greater Darfur, the Kordofan and Khartoum states together account for about 40 and over 80 per cent of the total national production of sorghum and millet, respectively. A higher proportion of households will then rely more on markets and humanitarian assistance for their food consumption. With expectations of a reduced harvest, prices of staple food are likely to remain atypically high in the harvest season and will likely rise further during the post-harvest period, with significant deviations from the norm. The price of staple grain could rise by 50–100 per cent in the next months compared to last year. This will further aggravate the trend of soaring staple food prices, observed since the conflict began. In 2023, food prices were 228 per cent higher than the previous two years, with the average cost of the local food basket 88 per cent higher compared to before the conflict, according to the FAO-WFP report.
Suspected cholera cases continue to rise amidst declining health system
Suspected cholera cases continue to increase, with 10,730 suspected cases, including 296 associated deaths, reported from 60 localities of 11 states as of 19 February 2024, according to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Sudan Outbreaks Dashboard. This is an increase of 650 cases compared to 19 January. The overall trend over the past three months has been on a downward trajectory, with a much lower increase compared to previous months. WHO reports that 15 million people across the country lack access to health care and between 70 – 80 per cent of health facilities are not functioning due to the ongoing conflict.
HUMANITARIAN ACCESS
Various challenges - insecurity, looting, bureaucratic impediments, poor network and phone connectivity, lack of cash, and limited technical and humanitarian staff on the ground – have been affecting the delivery of humanitarian assistance in many parts of the country. Fuel shortages also affect the movement of humanitarian staff and supplies and the generation of power needed for operations (maintaining cold chain storage, supplying water, etc). Despite all these challenges, humanitarian partners continue to provide life-saving assistance to the vulnerable people they can reach. The conflict – particularly in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan – has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation.
Between June and December 2023, humanitarian organizations managed to move about 177,500 metric tonnes (MT) of relief supplies across lines of conflict in parts of Sudan, bringing emergency food, medical, shelter, WASH and other non-food supplies for most vulnerable people affected by the conflict. This is against the backdrop of 62,600 MT of relif supplies that have been postponed and cancelled during the same period due to insecurity and other impediments. During August 2023, humanitarian organisations managed to dispatch the highest amount of supplies across lines of conflict – about 62,000 MT, while December marked the lowest level of crossline delivery – 441 MT of supplies. Meanwhile, since mid-December 2023, all cross-line movements have been suspended due to bureaucratic impediments, insecurity and the expansion of the conflict to eastern parts of Sudan.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
Despite all the challenges facing humanitarian operations, humanitarians continue to deliver of much needed assistance to vulnerable people across the country.
Health cluster partners provide medical consultations to about 181,000 people in January
During January 2024, seven health cluster partners provided medical consultations for about 181,000 people in 12 states, and delivered medicines to about 115,000 people in eight states, according to the most recent health cluster update. In addition, health cluster partners provided operational and funding support to 16 mobile clinics and seven ambulances in Blue Nile, East Darfur, Gedaref, Kassala, North Darfur, Sennar, South Darfur and South Kordofan states. During January, about 3,100 deliveries were assisted or an average of more than 100 deliveries per day during the past month, according to the health cluster.
ICRC provides clean water to over 2 million people in four state
During 2023, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) reports that it ensured the provision of clean drinking water for over 2 million people in Gedaref, Kassala, Aj Jazirah and Khartoum states. ICRC donated essential supplies for water purification, including 16 tons of calcium hypochlorite, 22 tons of polyaluminium chloride and 430,000 water purification tablets. These supplies contributed to enhancing the quality and quantity of water production in these four states.
In Focus: Response in Blue Nile and Sennar states
IOM DTM estimates that 133,500 displaced people have arrived in Blue Nile State from Khartoum and Aj Jazirah, taking refuge in 133 locations in all seven localities. In addition, over 38,000 IDPs remain displaced in four localities of Blue Nile due to inter-communal violence that erupted in July 2022, according to the IOM DTM. All these displaced people need humanitarian assistance and between 9-15 February, humanitarians responded to some of these needs.
WFP and partners distributed food assistance to about 22,600 IDPs from Khartoum across the state. More distributions are currently ongoing.
For water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance, IOM constructed 570 latrines in Ed Damazine and Ar Rusayris localities. The latrines serve more than 11,000 IDPs. The UN Children’s Agency (UNICEF) supported daily water chlorination at five water plants in Ed Damazine and Ar Rusayris localities, as well as daily monitoring of water quality. International Rescue Committee (IRC) conducted hygiene awareness activities through household visits, reaching about 1,500 people in Ar Rusayris, Wad Al Mahi and Ed Damzaine localities. The Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) organized three general cleaning campaigns in Ed Damazine and Ar Rusayris localities, including in new gathering points for IDPs from Aj Jazirah, as well as one in Ed Damazine market. SRCS also supported the maintenance of three hand pumps in Ahmer Sidik, Baw locality. ACTED distributed 500 dignity kits to IDPs from Aj Jazirah and host communities in Ed Damazine and Ar Rusayris localities, and trained 40 health promoters in Ed Damazine, Ar Rusayris, Tadamon, and Geisan localities. Action Africa Help International (AAH-I) distributed 400 hygiene kits to households in the Kurmuk and Tadamon localities and completed the drilling of two boreholes in Kurmuk locality, with plans to install hand pumps soon. ADRA provided hygiene kits to 1,300 households, containing eight washing and eight bathing soaps and two 10-litre jerry cans.
For health and nutrition assistance, International Medical Corps (IMC) transferred medical supplies to nine primary healthcare facilities in Baw and Geisan localities. World Vision International (WVI) organized 10 training sessions on nutrition targeting 50 health workers in Ed Damazine and Ar Rusayris localities. WVI has also carried out mis-upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening in Baw and Geisan localities reaching 12,000 children under five years of age. In addition, IOM established solar systems in Bout and Roro hospitals in Tadamon locality.
UNHCR and partners continue providing essential services to Ethiopian refugees in Camp 6, Wad Al Mahi locality.
In Sennar State, Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) distributed multi-purpose cash assistance to about 3,500 IDPs from Aj Jazirah staying in school buildings in Sennar and Sinja localities.
HUMANITARIAN NEEDS AND RESPONSE PLAN FUNDING OVERVIEW
On 20 February 2024, Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths released US$20 million for life-saving humanitarian support to vulnerable people across the Sudan through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). This year the CERF allocation is among the smallest in recent years for the world’s least-financed crises. This reflects the reduced funding that CERF received in 2023, its lowest since 2018, and the dire reality that donor funding is failing to keep up with soaring humanitarian needs.
The 2024 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) requires $2.7 billion to provide life-saving multi-cluster and protection assistance to 14.7 million people across Sudan in 2024. As of 23 February 2024, the appeal is 3.5 per cent funded, with $95.5 million received, according to the Financial Tracking Service.